Apparatus for detecting and capturing submarines.



P. B. DELANY.

APPARATUS FOR DETECTING AND CAPTURING SUBMARINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2lL19H'.

u, .//ff/ f77/x. a z z P. B. DELANY.

APPARATUS FOR DETECTING AND GAPTURING SUBMARINES.

APPLICATION FILED APLZI, i917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Dec. 1T, 1918.

v xv A /2 ffy memos.

S ATEN PATRICK B. DELANY, 0F SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR DETECTING AND CAPT'URING SUBMARINES.

`apparatus for detecting and capturing submarines. It. comprehends employing a pair of nets, one of which, the obstruction net, is normally in position to arrest the passage of a submerged craft, while the other or detention net is normally lowered on the bed of the stream and adapted to be ele` vated into operative position to prevent the escape of the craft 1n a reverse direction. The essential idea of the invention is means rendered -effective by the contact of the craftv with a net for conveying intelligence of the fact to an observers station.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows an obstruction net in the position effective to stop a craft passing partially or wholly submerged through a stream and also the medium for communicating to a watchers station the intelligence that the craft has encountered the net. Fig. 2 is a detaill of the means for raising and lowering the net. Fig. 8 shows the detention net in its operative position.

. Fig. 4 shows the detention net lowered upon the bed of a stream to permit the passage of a craft while the obstruction net is in a position to arrest its passage and Fig. 5 shows both nets in position.

The following features of construction are preferably common to both of the nets: A cable 2 is permanently anchored at one slde of the stream as by a tower y.3.. The cable carries suitable buoys to aid '1n supportingl the net and relieve the straln upon the cable. These may consist of pneumatic bags 4l as sh'ownin Figs. 1 and 2 or floats 4El as shown in Fig. 3..

.At vthe opposite side of the stream the cable is shown passing over a sheave 4b and attached to a weight designated at 5 in Fig. 1 and at 31 in Fig. 3. The sheave is Specification of Letters Patent.

Itiesshown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Application illed April 21, 1917. Serial No, 163,657.

suspended from the iron head or steel diaphragm 6 of a cylinder 7 supported by a beam 8 on a suitable tower. Within the cylinder and mounted on the head 6 I have shown a microphone transmitter 9 in circuit through conductors 10 with a telephone receiver or other indicator 12 at the observers station. A battery 13 is included in the circuit.

As appropriate means for moving the obstruction net 1 into and out of operative position I may employ the instrumentali- It will be understood that this net does not require frequent changes as it will normally be in operative position. I prefer to operate the net by the extent of inflation of the bags 4. When fully inated they raise the net into the position shown and when dequired elevation is attained the switch 20 is opened whereupon the check valve 21a prevents the outflow of air from the tube 14 and the bags. The check valve may also serve as an outlet valve for the pump, the valve 22 serving as an inlet.

To deflate the bags the valve 16 is opened preferably by energizing a solenoid 23 which rotatesthe valve plug 24 through the toothed sector 25 to connect the tube 14 with the outlet 26. The solenoid circuit includes the line wires 18 and 19, the switch 27 and the branch conductor 28. A resistance 29 is preferably included in the solenoid circuit. A spring 30 is adapted to' normally bring the valve to non exhausting position and provide a passage through the valve from the ump to thetube and bags.

T e detention net 1a is adapted for prompt is indicated at 36 and under the control of' a switch 37 whereby the motormay be maintained inactive or operated to raise or lower the rod and the weight. Obviously the weight tends to aid in quickly raising the net.

From the foregoing it will be understood that when a vessel contacts with the obstruction net l .it creates a tension of the cable. 42 on the drum head Gand renders the head sensitive to the vibrations set up in the net.

rI`he agitation of the drum head operates the microphone transmitter V9 which transmits the disturbances to the telephone or other indicator 12. The operator at the observers station having the mechanism forv controlling the detention net 1*.direct`l`y under his control may immediately operate the switch 3'( to cause the motor 35 to become active and permit the weight 31 to quickly lower and elevate the net.

If the craft thus trapped goes about and endeavors to escape its contact with the detention net 1a will result in the mechanical transmission of the vibrations to' the observers station just as in the manner above described when the craft encounters the obstruction net.

lt will be understood that while lt have speciied nets as `appropriate means for arresting the travel of the craft, yet any equivalent arrangement vmay be employed, the main feature of my invention being the method of detection by the mechanical transmission of the vvibration set up in the get or other obstruction to the microphone `5 etector.

l claim as my invention: 1. An apparatus for detecting. the presence of vessels comprising a net across the path of travel ofy the vessel, a cable for supporting said net, supports from which the cable is suspended, a diaphragm carried by one or more of said supports and connected with said cable,.and means'operated by the diaph the cable maybe detected. Y

2. An apparatus for detecting the presvibrations of ence of vessels comprising a net across the ragm for recording the vibrationsy 4thereof whereby mechanical one of said supports, cable-supportin means carried. by said diaphragm where y mechanical vibrations of the cable operate the diaphragm, means operated by said diaphragm for recording the vibrationsthereof, and means for raising and lowering the 4net without destroying the operative relation of the diaphragm with the cable.

3. An 4apparatus for recording contact with a submarine hindrance below the water, comprising a receiver of mechanical vibrations located abovethe water, a tensioned member connected to said hindrance and to said receiver for transmitting mechanical vibrations thereto, and means adjacent said receiver for transforming said mechanical vibrations into electrical vibrations for signal purposes.

4. An apparatus for recording contact I with a submarine hindrance below the water, comprising a receiver of mechanical vibrations located above the water, a tensioned member rigidly connected to said hindrance and adjustably connected to saidereceiver for transmitting mechanical vibrations thereto, and means adjacent said receiver .for transforming said mechanical vibrations into electrical' vibrations for signal purposes.

5. An apparatus -for recording contact of a vessel with a Water-way protecting device, comprising a receiver of mechanical vibrations located above the Water, a tensioned member connecting said projecting device and said receiver for mechanically transmitting mechanical vibrations caused by contact of said device with said receiver, and

chanical vibrations.

7 Means for the detection of vessels, coinpris'ing a tensioned wire orl cable adjustably suspended at one end from ametallic diaphragml located at a receiving station above the water and .audibly responsive to mechanical vibrations caused by contact of' a vessel with said Wire or cable, and a microphone at said receiving station responsive to said mechanical vibrations.

8. Means for the detection and detention `of vessels, comprising a series ofvhindrances adapted tobe raised and lowered at will, a receiver ofu mechanical vibrations connected to one of said vseries of hindrances by a tenv said receivingstation responsive to saidmesioned member, and a microphone responsive to saidv mechanical vibrations for mdicatingwhen another of said series of hindrance's should be raised.

9. An apparatus for the detection of vessels, comprising a Waterway hindrance, a diaphragm supported above the water so as to be audibly responslve to mechanical vi- 

